ST. PAUL, Minn. (Aug. 17, 2016) — The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation announce Wednesday that Nona Ferguson and Dr. Pahoua Yang have been promoted to serve as Vice Presidents of Wilder Programs.
Wilder’s direct services and programs offer hope and support to more than 10,000 of people each year, helping them reach their full potential. Under the leadership of Ferguson and Yang, Wilder Programs plans to expand to support even more children, adults and families in our community, particularly related to mental health and economic stability.
Ferguson has been with the Wilder Foundation for 21 years and has held numerous leadership positions during her tenure. She has served as the Director of Family Supportive Housing Services for the past five years. In her new role she will oversee Wilder’s supportive housing and programs addressing basic needs, early childhood and aging services.
Yang has been with Wilder seven years and has served as the Director of Community Mental Health since 2014. She will lead Wilder’s community mental health and school success programs. She has a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a doctorate in educational psychology (counseling) from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Ferguson and Yang bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective roles, said Dr. MayKao Y. Hang, Wilder Foundation President and CEO. The two have dedicated their careers to community service, she said.
“After launching a formal search, I was even more convinced that we had the right people here at Wilder that we could promote,” Hang said. Nona and Pahoua are extraordinarily committed to our mission, and have the critical leadership skills and competencies to bring us into the future.”
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps children, families and older adults in the greater Saint Paul area through direct service programs, research, leadership development and community building. Established in 1906, the mission of the Wilder Foundation is to promote the social welfare of persons in the greater Saint Paul metropolitan area without regard to nationality, sex, color, religion, or prejudice. For more information about the Wilder Foundation, visit www.wilder.org.
